Mining Claim Introduction

The Golden Empire mining claim is a historical property in the El Dorado Mining district. The mine claim encompasses 20 acres and is a lode claim. The claim is laid generally running east/west and covers a variety of workings on a lode which is also noted to be east/west trending. There has been considerable development done on the property including a small mill, an assay shop and a vault for storage of gold and silver bars as they were produced.

Historically the mines were originally located in 1905 and held by the company Geotech mining up until 2012. The original company Geotech mining was bought out by a Canadian person or group in 2012, who got investors to get the ball rolling to work the mines. The property was then valued at $200,000,000.00 (Two hundred Million Dollars). In 2013, The Canadian outfit who purchased the company and claims then took the invested money and vanished presumably back to Canada. Investors lost their funds and no further development has been executed. Assay set up and recent crucibles along with concentrates and slag on the site confirm the testing and values that were being reported in 2012.

The property has been noted as being very remote prior to 1920. Gold and silver would be taken to the port at the Colorado river for shipping. This being accessible only by dangerous journey through the infamous El Dorado canyon. With the prevalence of automobiles post WWI, the camp began shipping bars and ores through Henderson and Las Vegas, Nevada which was largely controlled by mining magnate W.A. Clark.

There is a substantial waste dump positioned west of the main shaft. This dump is estimated at 50k tons but likely more. This dump is representative of the excavation work done at the mine in the development of the underground workings. A single shaft is accessible in the main camp area. This is the access point to the main workings of the mine. There are some small prospects on the property and a small decline adit that is east of the main camp. None of the ancillary workings appear promising according to Gold Rush surveyors and the overall value is in the main workings.

It is well documented that the veins in the region are east/west trending and contain free gold and pyrites as well as sulphide ores at depth. The geological reports indicate that the gold values from 100-400’ below the surface are sulfides with high gold content. There is no confirmed standard depth of the veins. Miners at the Rand, the Wall Street and the Techatticup mines in the region reported that further excavation was not carried out due to water ingress at or around 200’. This water is useful for mining operations today but 100 years ago was very difficult to efficiently remove.

The main shaft was not mapped or examined as it will require some harnesses and safety equipment to descend the workings and these items were not available on the day of Gold Rush Expeditions survey of the site. The shaft appeared to be in good condition and cribbing and woodwork was intact and showed little deterioration. Ladders into the workings are wooden construction and should be either reinforced or replaced with metal ladders in the opinion of Gold Rush Expeditions, Inc. surveyors.

According to records, the shaft descends a total of 320 feet with drift levels at 90, 125, 180, and 240’. This drifting work will be of various lengths and has not been documented or mapped. Air quality was measured at the portal of the mine where cold air could be felt exiting the shaft. All gasses showed within safe and normal ranges with no variances over a 15-minute sample.

The Knob Hill patented mining property is adjacent to this property to the north. The Knob Hill property had absorbed the Golden Empire Mine for many years as part of their operation. This operation was active and mining and milling until 1996. The Golden Empire was a large part of the ore recovery for this operation and according to records the majority of the gold bearing ore was being taken from the 125’ level of the Golden Empire Mine. Ores were being crushed on site and processed on the Knob Hill property.

There are a number of current crucibles at the site and some barrels with gold concentrates still inside. These are indications of the gold recovery that has taken place on the claim. Road access today to the mine is excellent and on most days it can be reached with a 2wd vehicle. We recommend 4WD for times of inclement weather and high clearance for some sandy washes on the way to the claim from the highway. The dumps on the claim are quite substantial and show various minerals. Most notably is some white quartz, which is not visible on any outcrops, with iron and copper staining. As noted, the waste dump is estimated at 50K tons. The waste dump has been leveled out, likely by a dozer or grader and is spread over a large area on the claim.

This is a significant site with excellent potential for development, the mine was permitted and being worked as late as 1996 as previously noted. Gold prices in 1996 averaged $369 oz/T. Values of gold today are reported at $1250 oz/T. The site bears additional value as it has been processed on and thus could be permitted for milling and smelting again.

Mining Claim Quick Facts

Access

2WD with high clearance access.

Waste Dump Present/Size?

The waste dump is spread out across the claim, estimated at 50k tons.

Tailings Present/Size?

Less than 2 tons of tailings on the claim.

Mine Cut/Structure

Adits and shaft cut into hard rock.

Total Workings

At least 3000’ estimated on sub-levels.

Commodities

Nearest City with Amenities

30 Miles, Henderson, Nevada

Parking

Room for 10 to 12 vehicles around the claim.

Resources

None Defined.

Other Items of Note

Historical names - Sunshine Mine, Golden Empire

Acres and Type of Claim

20 Acre Lode Claim

Purchase Price

$25,000

Mining Claim Description

Vanderburg, 1937 reported the following about the Golden Empire:

The Golden Empire group of eight claims owned. by John S. Sartain is in the western part of the Eldorado district in the vicinity of Knob Hill.

This property has been worked intermittently for many years and production is reported to have been about $50,000 in shipping ore.

In February 1937 the property was under lease to R. W. Cate, with royalty payment of 10 per-cent on the net smelter returns. In 1936 Cate shipped 50 tons of ore averaging $50 per ton. The ore is mined by hand methods. The haul to Boulder City, 32 miles from the property costs $3 per ton. Development work comprrises four shafts, each about 100 feet deep, and subsidiary workings, totaling in all about 1,000 feet.

The ore occurs in narrow veins from a few inches to 2 1/2 feet wide, striking east and west and dipping 60° to 80° to the south. Values are in gold and silver. Formation is gneiss and schist.